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invalid system disk

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Name: butch
Date: December 4, 2004 at 17:32:59 Pacific
OS: windows 98SE
CPU/Ram: 533 Celeron / 256mb Ram
Comment:

I have read many "invalid system disk" error questions and answers. I think mine is unique. I formatted the hard drive and installed Windows 98se. Now I get the error message, but all I have to do is press any key and the system boots up just fine. How do I get rid of this error message?



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Response Number 1
Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: December 4, 2004 at 17:40:13 Pacific
Reply:

Is this a new hard drive that you've just installed? How large is the drive?


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Response Number 2
Name: butch
Date: December 4, 2004 at 17:44:27 Pacific
Reply:

No, it's the same 13gb drive that came with the computer.


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Response Number 3
Name: Bryco
Date: December 4, 2004 at 18:12:15 Pacific
Reply:

Is there a disk in the floppy drive or the CD drive that is not bootable?

That could be the sign of a failing hard drive if the above does not apply.

Bryan


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Response Number 4
Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: December 4, 2004 at 18:13:31 Pacific
Reply:

Boot with a bootdisk and at the a:\> prompt type:

sys c:

and enter to refresh the system files. Then reboot without the bootdisk. If that doesn't do it (and you don't have a drive overlay installed) boot with a bootdisk again and type:

fdisk/mbr

and enter. Then reboot without the bootdisk.


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Response Number 5
Name: ham30
Date: December 4, 2004 at 18:53:23 Pacific
Reply:

Your hard drive might be a little slow waking up. Enter the Bios and look for an option that says `enable fast bootup'. Disable it and maybe it will give the hard drive enough time to get going.


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Response Number 6
Name: butch
Date: December 4, 2004 at 18:59:50 Pacific
Reply:

I don't have any disk in the drives.

I had already tried the "sys C:". I tried it again with no luck. I just tried the "fdisk/mbr" also with no luck.


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Response Number 7
Name: Derek
Date: December 4, 2004 at 19:04:27 Pacific
Reply:

Just thinking aloud, but if you've only just reformatted it may be worth thinking about trying again before you get much further loading your programs and so on. Try any other ideas first.

Derek.W


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Response Number 8
Name: anenefan
Date: December 4, 2004 at 19:05:08 Pacific
Reply:

Hi

I think it is as Bryco mentions with a floppy or non bootable device. Confirm hard drive problem by setting hard drive as first bootable device. Sometimes the bios snags with the boot sequence and will not move onto the next device automatically.

Should you decide to use the sys c: to refresh; make a copy of your hidden msdos.sys file (in the root of c drive) first or just unhide and rename msdos.sys before shutting down.



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Response Number 9
Name: butch
Date: December 4, 2004 at 19:24:40 Pacific
Reply:

I have already reformatted the drive 3 times with the same result.

I can't find anything in the Bios about a "fast boot". I think I have tried changing just about everything else in the Bios though!

Please keep in mind that all I have to do when the error message comes up is hit any key and the system boots just fine


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Response Number 10
Name: butch
Date: December 4, 2004 at 19:27:23 Pacific
Reply:

I have set the hard drive to the first boot and I tried setting it to the only boot.


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Response Number 11
Name: ham30
Date: December 4, 2004 at 19:54:44 Pacific
Reply:

Try setting it after the floppy and cdrom drive.


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Response Number 12
Name: anenefan
Date: December 4, 2004 at 20:09:22 Pacific
Reply:

Hi again

My first message I sent a bit late. (I could only see #4 -- Opera browser not reloading correctly, my system is a "bit" congested though)

Have read you have reformatted 3 times already.

My thoughts are start from scratch. If its what I think this problem is (semi-persistent resident image), you could just Zero (what a lot of modern low level formatters really do) the first couple of hundred sectors of the drive or even just the first sector, and it could fix this problem.

For tricky drives::

First run a diagnostic for your disk drive. The hard drive manufactures'website usually has such a utility.

Otherwise try the generic trial diagnostic from Ontrack.

Zero the drive -- (eg killdisk) Note any errors.

Reinstall, a surface scan should be automatic for a clean drive.



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Response Number 13
Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: December 4, 2004 at 20:36:53 Pacific
Reply:

Yeah, at the very least remove the partitions with fdisk, recreate them, format and reinstall windows. This is what you'd need to do after a zero-fill anyway.

Make sure the HD is identified correctly in cmos/bios setup--usually as AUTO.

Otherwise, as Bryan mentioned, your hard drive may be developing problems.


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Response Number 14
Name: butch
Date: December 5, 2004 at 10:00:51 Pacific
Reply:

OK, I have run the diagnostic test using SeaGate's disk. Everything passed. I am in the process of running a thorough ScanDisk.
anenefan, I'm not sure how do do the "Zero" the drive. Can you give me sum instructions?


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Response Number 15
Name: DAVEINCAPS
Date: December 5, 2004 at 15:21:03 Pacific
Reply:

Check on the seagate disk for a zero-fill utiliity.


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Response Number 16
Name: anenefan
Date: December 5, 2004 at 18:37:51 Pacific
Reply:

Hi

Some versions of seatools don't seem to offer the zero fill option.

I've found Killdisk carries out proper zeroing.

Killdisk

Free download version

If you can burn cds, the iso version isn't bad.

Using Killdisk is a matter of reading the menus, select the Seagate 13GB drive and -- go!

Once that is done, boot from your 98se cd and let setup take over.

If zeroing is sucsessful, you should not have a problem, but let us know if it worked out anyway.


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Response Number 17
Name: butch
Date: December 7, 2004 at 15:57:23 Pacific
Reply:

I downloaded a copy of Killdisk and it seem to work just fine. I have not had a chance to try to reinstall windows yet.

I will keep you up to date as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks for all of your suggestions


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Response Number 18
Name: butch
Date: December 9, 2004 at 17:58:08 Pacific
Reply:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
After using killdisk and formatting the drive again, I was able to reinstall the operating software and it runs great, no more "invalid system disk" message.
All you guys are great.
Thanks again!
Butch


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